Lake Co Zoning Panel to Take Public Input on Wind Ordinance

The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing soon to take input on the County’s proposed wind zoning ordinance for both small and utility-scale turbines. According to the Lake County News Sun:

The ordinance includes regulations that are more strict than state standards, and sets limits on height, decibel levels and shadow flicker from turbine blades, according to the county’s senior planner, David Husemoller.
The ordinance specifies that any turbines higher than 175 feet must be located on parcels of at least 5 acres and will require a conditional-use permit.
It sets a height limit of 400 feet, although it also says heights of 500 feet could be considered. Decibel levels would be restrictive in residential areas and lower at night than during the day. The ordinance would also prohibit reflection of turbine blade shadow flicker on houses.

The separate decibel level requirements may be very detrimental to wind development of all types, as such a requirement would essentially owners to shut down their turbines overnight. Because nighttime hours are the windiest, this would deprive owners of the highest-producing hours, thereby reducing payback times and making wind turbines a less-attractive investment for homeowners and businesses.

Anyone interested in installing wind turbines in Lake County should keep their eye on the Illinois Wind Daily to know when the hearing will be held.